That's how several members of cheer feel after making it onto an all-star cheerleading team that will perform in London’s New Year Parade.

Varsity cheer co-captain junior Daichen Wei, junior Jenny Zhou, junior Joanne Lee and sophomore Belinda Hu had qualified for the team at Spirit USA cheer camp in Santa Cruz where they learned new cheers and stunts like "the can-can." However, they are undecided now about whether to go or not. “We really want to go but, unfortunately, [the trip] is way too expensive,” Lee said.

This is not the only special invitation that cheer received at camp. Varsity cheer was also invited to perform at the NFL Halftime Show in Honolulu Stadium. However, they do not plan on going again due to lack of finances. “We are fundraising for our competitions first because they are more important, ” said Wei.

Song

Song also went to the Spirit USA camp, where they received a superior rating, the highest rating of all, as well as, "the spirit stick and two awards out of the five that they gave out,” according to varsity song member junior, Regina Lee.

They also learned cheerleader routines that they will now incorporate into their usual dances.

Since going to camp, the girls are eager to start adding more what they have.

“We want to add more fouttes to increase the difficulty of jumps, make more complex forms of jumps,” said Masha Barska.

Their first competition is on Nov. 12, and they will continue to have one meet every month until nationals next year.

Senior letter

While other spirit teams decided moves to put in their routines for the rally, senior letter was busy determining what their uniform should look like. “It was hard to decide designs, because we wanted it to be original,” said senior Arielle Avalos. “Some of us barely knew each other, so it was hard to solve conflicts."

After the deliberation of the design and color, the team finally decided on a uniform for this year. The final uniform is a black, silver, and cardinal colored halter that crosses on the back. Across the midriff, there are two V designs, intersecting at their respective vertices, creating an argyle. To finish off the uniform, is their pleated skirts, with “07”printed on it.

Besides working on the uniform, senior letter is also working on new routines by "using childhood games with modern hip hop beats,” senior Cheryl Pascual said.

Senior Jennifer Tsang said that senior letter has a different focus from other spirit leagues: "No competitiveness, having fun and looking good."

Urban Step

In life, there are losses and changes to be dealt with. Urban Step knows this; all of the original members have graduated last year.

“It’s a whole new generation,” senior captain Lianna Leal said.

And with this new generation comes a "less street style and more polished choreography," according to senior Amanda Sherman.

Leal agreed. "It's going to be a really different vibe," she said.

This year, Urban Step has fewer members. But junior Latasha Allston this will benefits the squad. Leaders spend less time teaching the dance and members have more time actually dancing it." she said.

In terms of future performances by Urban Step, expect a show of exuberance. “Expect to see a lot more of us,” Allston said. “Expect to be interested in our dance [at the rally].”